Doctor-patient relationships form the cornerstone of preventative healthcare, acting as the site where the social determinants of patient backgrounds intersect with the constructed systems of insurance, pharmaceuticals, and commercialized biomedicine that make up the modern healthcare industry. At this crucial … Read more

Introduction: Education status is a fundamental aspect of the social determinants of health, particularly in preventative health. In medical settings, having a strong education background as a patient is often associated with higher quality relationships with providers and better quality … Read more

In rural areas across North Carolina, access to healthcare is shaped not only by geography but also by economics, immigration status, and the ability to navigate a complex and often inequitable system. Medicaid, the public health insurance program jointly funded … Read more

Most of us struggle to recall even a singular instance where we are in need of medical aid and were hindered or constrained from receiving it. However, one can easily overlook this so-called “universal” right of access to healthcare, when … Read more

Communication is the foundation of all doctor-patient relationships with the most critical being those who are able to intervene first, routine general physicians. The principle of preventive care lies in the power in the ability to be proactive over one’s … Read more

Accessing Specialist Services in Rural Healthcare In the complex analysis of rural healthcare, it is of paramount importance to understand the role that access to specialized services and lack of resources plays in the daily lives of rurally located individuals. … Read more

Access to healthcare remains one of the most critical social determinants of health in modern society. Despite tremendous advances in medical science and technology, the ability to receive quality, timely healthcare services varies dramatically across populations. These disparities not only … Read more

Introduction In 2023, the United States spent a staggering $4.9 trillion on healthcare, which accounts for 17.6% of the nation’s GDP.1This extreme amount of expenditure – which is only projected to increase in future years – is primarily caused by … Read more

Introduction For many Black and immigrant families in the American South, medical care has never been perceived as a safe or welcoming institution. The legacy of segregated hospitals, the absence of culturally competent care, and decades of structural exclusion have … Read more

As with any complicated relationship in people’s everyday lives, the dynamic that exists between a doctor and their patient is incredibly nuanced, characterized simultaneously by aspects that work and others that could benefit from reform. These nuances are especially evident … Read more